Follow the author of this article

Follow the topics within this article

“My last job? Stripper. This interview’s not going well, is it?” But 52-year-old Paul from Northumberland wasn’t ever a stripper. In fact, he hadn’t worked at all since developing severe Tourette’s syndrome six years ago. His tics and offensive outbursts made finding work a challenge, to say the least. Would he ever provide for his family again?

Employable Me (BBC Two) followed jobseekers trying to prove that neurological disorders such as Tourette’s need not make them unemployable. Behind the reality TV trappings lay scientific intent and a serious message: differently wired brains shouldn’t always be viewed in negative terms. Experts demonstrated how the strengths that accompany such conditions could be harnessed to help land dream careers. Companies often wax lyrical about how they want staff who (that dreaded phrase) “think outside the box”. Well, these people certainly did.

Paul headed to London to meet Tourette’s specialist Dr Davide Martino. The train trip itself was a challenge: Paul kept yelling “Bomb!” and “Death to infidels!”, only partially reassuring fellow passengers by wearing a “Keep calm, it’s only Tourette’s” hoodie. His tics grew worse in crowds, so Martino advised a solitary job that calmed his symptoms. It turned out Paul had a high visual IQ and was a self-taught photographer. He soon sold some landscapes to an art publisher and, as he roamed the countryside snapping away, his tics were barely noticeable. “I’ve got a bit of the old me back,” he beamed.

Brett's autism has prevented him from finding employment in the pastCredit:
BBC

Autistic Brett, 34, had spent eight years being rejected for hundreds of jobs. He struggled to communicate and didn’t leave the house for months on end but was desperate to gain some independence. “I don’t want to be a lonely old man,” he said.

Nancy Doyle works as an occupational psychologist and is consulted on Employable MeCredit:
BBC

Brett began to reveal hidden talents: he played lovely self-compositions on the piano, was a gifted 3D modeller and computer animator. After landing a job at a medical equipment manufacturer where his skills proved invaluable, Brett murmured: “I did good. Chuffed.” When he gave a touching speech about what his colleagues’ acceptance meant to him, Brett’s boss found something in his eye. So did I. This was stereotype-defying, inspirational television.